The US government is prepared to allow American passengers who were exposed to a unique strain of hantavirus to return home as early as Monday, provided their states post a monitor outside their homes 24/7 for the remaining three weeks of their six-week quarantine.

Six people forced into quarantine over the cruise ship hantavirus outbreak will be there at least three more weeks.

Several patients are being treated for a deadly and rare strain of hantavirus after they were sickened on a cruise ship.